Method of controlling high-tension currents.



No. 628,026. Patented July 4,1899. H. G. ONEILL.

METHOD OF CONTROLLING HIGH TENSION CURRENTS.

(Application filed Oct. 15, 1898.)

(Nu Model.)

H l A o A l WITNESSES: INYENTOR Z a 2 6W BYM%M ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY GIBSON ONEILL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF TWENTY-NINE THIRTY-SECONDS TO JOHN ROONEY, OF SAME PLACE, AND ALEXANDER ARNOIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF CONTROLLING HIGH-TENSION CURRENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,026, dated July 4, 1899.

Application filed October 15, 1898. Serial No. 693 685. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern: will be observed, therefore, that the opera Beitknown that I, HENRY GIBSON ONEILL, tion consists in taking the current into the a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and tube at the terminal A and passing the same a resident of New York, in the county of New through any desired degree of Vacuum, de=

5 York and State of New York, have inventpending upon the distance of the ringB from ed certain new and useful Improvements in the terminal, and tapping the current off Methods of Controlling High-Tension Curthrough the walls of the glass by the metallic 6o rents, &c.; and I do declare the following to ring through the contact-springs B. be a full, clear, and exact description of the It is obvious that the shape of the tube,

to invention, such as will enable others skilled whether straight, curved, or circular, is imin the art to which it appertains to make and material. I employ but one wire to my ciruse the same, reference being had to the accuit. While the foregoing is the form I find companying drawings, and to letters of refer- .most convenient, variations of this will preence marked thereon, which form a part of sent themselves. For carrying out the same 1 5 this specification. principle various contact-points may be sealed Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation into the tube and enter the vacuum-chamber of the invention, partly broken away. Fig. at varying distances throughout its length. 2 is a section on line to m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a Such arrangement would in the main admit side elevation of a modification of the invenof obtaining variations of voltage, though 20 tion. hardly the perfect regulation that may at This invention relates to the art of controltimes be necessary or desired. ling currents of electricity, and is especially What I claim as new, and desire to secure designed to supply a convenient method of by Letters Patent, isand apparatus for regulating high-tension 1. The method of controlling high-tension 2 5 currents. currents, which consists in passing the same The principle involved consists in interthrough a terminal into a sealed-in glass tube posing in circuit the resistance offered by a or closure, from which air has been withvacuum and awall of glass, thereby obtaining drawn, and tapping them off at different disnot alone any desired reduction in eleetrotances from the terminal, by a metallic con- 0 motive force, but also such attenuation of the tact, through the walls of the glass tube, the

current as to permit its use in a flattened-out voltage being regulated by the length of vacform with a mild effect, resembling a shower uum interposed. of minute feathers. 2. The means for regulating high-tension In the accompanying drawings, A reprecurrents, which consists of a glass tube or 5 sents a tube of glass having a terminal A closure from which air has been withdrawn; sealed therein, air having been previously a terminal electrode sealed in said tube or withdrawn from saidtube. The degree of closure; and adjustable means for tapping 9o vacuum and thickness of the walls of the tube off the current, as and for the purposes set is regulated according to the circumstances forth.

40 of voltage and desired effect. 3. In a rheostat for high-tension currents,

B representsa metallic ring having springthe combination of a glass tube or closure contacts B, adapted to slide along and enfrom which air has been exhausted; a metal- 5 gage the walls of the tube. On the exterior lic electrode or electrodes sealed in said tube of this ring there is a rubber or other non-' or closure; and a metallic piece adapted to 5 conducting handle B or means of holding .closely engage the exterior walls of the tube same for the purpose of sliding the ring along or closure, substantially as specified the tube, said ring also having a binding-post In testimony whereof I affix my signature B 05' other suitable means for attaching a in presence of two witnesses. con uctor, by which connection is made to w T 50 the point of utilization. As the ring is moved HENRY GIBSON O L EILL more or less remote from the terminal that l/Vitnesses: enters the vacuum-chamber, it is obvious that G. M. ANDERSON,- the voltage is increased or diminished. It GEO. H. PARMELEE. 

